The Newport News City Council held a work session on June 24, 2025, focusing on the strategic housing initiatives aimed at addressing the city's growing housing needs. The meeting began with a presentation led by Owen Miller and Terry Francis, who outlined the importance of developing a comprehensive housing strategy in response to findings from the city's first comprehensive housing study, launched in December 2024.

The study revealed a pressing need for 21,000 housing units by 2050, highlighting the challenges of housing affordability and supply in the current market. The strategic housing initiative plan (SHIP) aims to provide a roadmap for achieving these goals by identifying key strategies and measurable objectives. Francis emphasized the collaborative effort involving various city departments and stakeholders to ensure a diverse housing landscape that meets the needs of the community.

During the presentation, four primary focus areas were identified: housing policy and regulatory reform, housing production and redevelopment, preservation and neighborhood stability, and housing affordability and access. These areas will guide the development of specific tactics to enhance the housing market and support economic vitality across Newport News.

Council members expressed their support for the initiative, with discussions highlighting the potential benefits of implementing a land value tax and streamlining the permitting process to encourage development. The council plans to further explore these strategies during a retreat scheduled for July, where they will discuss the proposed tactics in greater detail.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing community engagement and updates as the strategic housing initiative progresses. The council anticipates finalizing the SHIP document by the end of the year, which will require their approval and continued collaboration with the community to adapt to changing housing needs.